Sixth Sunday of Easter C

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

• Responsorial Psalm
• The gospel for the day
  (a useful commentary on the reading  here)
• Some optional questions for reflection
  
• Prayers of Intercession
  
• Cluster Prayer
• The gospel of the week ahead with questions
  

Psalm 66   Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

O God be gracious and bless us, let your face shed it’s light up on us

So will your ways be known upon earth, and all nations learn your saving help.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

Let the nations be glad and ex-halt For you rule the world with justice

With fairness you rule the people, You guide the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

Let the peoples praise you O God. And let all the peoples praise you

May God still give us his blessing till the ends of the earth revere Him.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

Let the peoples praise you, all praise you O God.

John 14: 23-29 The Holy Spirit will remind you of all I have said to you.

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own:
it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you while still with you;
but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you.
Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return.
If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father,
for the Father is greater than I.
I have told you this now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe.’

This is the gospel of the Lord

Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved.

Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested  in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us.         cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Prayers of Intercession

For the universal church 
as it continues to gather synodal reflections and opinions 
ahead of the big gathering in Rome in 2023. 
May those in authority seek to reconcile differences between believers
and to foster an atmosphere of respectful listening to what each person has to say.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all the faith communities in South East Edinburgh
who are guided by the gospel message of Jesus 
or whose beliefs and values align with the gospel. 
May all people of good will come together to help and support 
those who face a worsening quality of life for themselves and their families.
May we learn to work together as one, as Jesus wished. 
We remember in particular the vital work of SEECAT 
in helping to co-ordinate support from our different churches.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In today’s gospel we heard how Jesus gifted his followers with his peace –
He talked about “A peace that the world cannot give”.
In a world which is desperately in need of that peace, 
let us wish each other “shalom” at the kiss of peace at Mass
and strive to heal the wounds of division within our families and friendships.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As we emerge from the fallout of the pandemic,
let’s remember all those who have been seriously affected physically or mentally
because of the effects of the virus on themselves or those close to them.
We remember also those who are sick and all those in our Prayer Foundation list.
May the peace of Christ be with them in their hour of need.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died recently: Pat Hogg, Frank Smith and John Norman
and the anniversaries of all those in our cluster parishes which occur at this time.
Although our hearts are broken and we mourn their passing,
we take comfort from Jesus’ words in today’s gospel:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
They are resting in the everlasting peace that the world could not give them.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prayer to be Missionary Disciples